Bath residents who want an axed bus loop restored have new hope after the new council member for transport promised to take the issue up with First Bus and the Metro Mayor.

Barely a month into his new role as Transport and Highways Cabinet Member for Bath and North East Somerset Council, Mark Shelford (Cons, Lyncombe) rode the full circuits of the now split 6 and 7 bus routes.

These routes previously linked Larkhall and Fairfield Park with each other and with the London Road.

Mr Shelford travelled with councillor Lin Patterson (Greens, Lambridge), Pat Mason and David Kernek who are part of a campaign group seeking to reinstate the circular route which had its council subsidy withdrawn in September.

They told him the changes to the First Bus routes had had a "damaging impact" on the shops and traders in Larkhall and the London Road.

Residents in the densely populated area can no longer access them without paying for two bus journeys and incurring at least an hour's travelling time for a distance of about a mile over a very steep hill, they said.

Mr Shelford said the council had now asked WECA, which is responsible for regional transport, to consider the matter along with other transport issues.

Bath bus users Nora Gee, 96, and John James, 79, had their say about cuts to the 6/7 bus service at a full council meeting in September 2016 (Image: Artur Lesniak)

He also plans to take the matter to the West of England Mayor and First Bus, he said.

Mr Shelford said: "I was pleased to experience the bus journey along with residents and local councillors from the area, and hear their views and concerns about the current 6/7 bus route operated by First Bus.

"As was agreed in the resolution passed by Full Council in July, we have asked the West of England authority to consider this issue as part of its wider review of bus services across the region.

Mrs Mason said: "Not only does the loss of the connected bus route harm traders, but it is leading to social isolation for elderly people and is causing hardship for mothers bringing their children to school.

"It actually affects all sorts of people in a harmful way."

Mr Kernek said: "Fairfield Park is the only suburban area in Bath without a direct bus connecting people to their local shopping area.

"Not everyone wants to go into the city centre every time they need something."